Orthopedic Surgery Research Faculty

Basic Sciences

Helen E. Gruber, PhD

Senior Scientist and Director of Orthopaedic Research BiologyGraduate Faculty and Adjunct Professor of University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Dr. Gruber's research interests are in the areas of bone and cartilage, with a current focus on the intervertebral disc and disc degeneration. Since joining Dr. Hanley's group in 1994, she and Dr. Hanley have developed a comprehensive approach to the analysis of disc cellular and molecular biology in health and disease, and tissue engineering studies for disc cell carriers, autologous disc cell therapy, and adipose-derived mesenchymal cell-disc cell co-cultures. She and Dr. Hanley have three patents on cell-based therapies for disc degeneration. External grant funding on her disc research studies has been obtained from the North American Spine Society, The Cervical Spine Research Society, and the AO (Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen) Research Fund of the AO Foundation, Dübendorf, Switzerland. She has authored 203 peer-reviewed scientific articles in addition to numerous chapters. In 2012, Dr. Gruber received a prestigious North American Spine Society recognition award: the 2012 Henry Farfan Award for outstanding contributions in spine-related basic science research. View Dr. Gruber full profile.

Yubo Sun, PhD

Senior Scientist of Degenerative Joint Disease Research and Orthopaedic Research BiologyAdjunct Associate Professor in Department of Biology of University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Dr. Sun’s main research interest is to determine the pathogenesis of degenerative joint diseases. He has authored 40 peer-reviewed scientific articles including invited review articles. He uses a human cartilage/meniscus/synovium explant culture model and several molecular probes to 1) investigate the cellular and gene expression alterations occurring in tissues and cells derived from patients with osteoarthritis, and 2) identify potential therapeutic targets for intervention. Another research interest is to develop small molecule drugs and investigate their therapeutic effect on osteoarthritis of the knee and intervertebral disc, and their effect osteochondral defect repair using relevant animal models. View Dr. Sun full profile.

Andrea Roberts

Postdoctoral Fellow

Dr. Roberts’s research interest is in the area of osteoarthritis (OA), with a specific focus upon the role meniscal cells play in the development of OA pathogenesis. Recent studies have shown that OA is accelerated when basic calcium phosphate and calcium pyrophosphate dehydrate crystals form in the joints. Dr. Roberts’ research focus is to determine if meniscal cells have an effect on the formation of these calcium crystals and the development of OA compared to other cells, such as chondrocytes, found in the joint. In addition, Dr. Roberts is studying the role of meniscal cell-induced calcification in the expression of OA-associated genes such as matrix metalloproteinase-1, IL-1β, IL-8, and Cox-2.

Biomechanics

Richard D. Peindl, PhD

Director of Orthopaedic Engineering Research Laboratory

Dr. Peindl has over 35 years of mechanical engineering experience working in both industrial and academic settings in the areas of manufacturing, product development, test engineering and research. Most of his efforts aimed at answering surgical questions with near-term clinical applications. The majority of these projects involve measuring stresses, strains, loads and deformations of fracture fixation devices, joint replacement devices, joint reconstruction techniques or soft tissue attachment devices and/or techniques. Studies are conducted using synthetic specimens, cadaveric specimens or animal models and involve evaluation of initial structural stability to long-term performance of soft tissue-bone-implant constructs. Dr. Peindl’s background includes experience in photostress analysis, strain gage and brittle coatings analyses and joint motion analyses using a variety of motion capture systems. Over the last 10 years, Dr. Peindl’s laboratory has also been involved in basic science research involving the response of osteoblasts to simulated implant surfaces and the development of a new type of osmotic gradient bioreactor system for the growth of articular cartilage. These efforts have resulted in two awarded patents in the area of tissue culture and one patent pending with respect to the bioreactor system. Emerging areas of interest include research in computer-assisted and robotic-assisted surgery and utilization of joint motion analysis and dynamic posturography for quantitative evaluation of orthopedic-related disability and surgical outcomes assessment. View Dr. Peindl full profile.

Clinical Research

Richard D. Peindl, PhD

Director of Orthopaedic Engineering Research Laboratory

Dr. Peindl has over 35 years of mechanical engineering experience working in both industrial and academic settings in the areas of manufacturing, product development, test engineering and research. Most of his efforts aimed at answering surgical questions with near-term clinical applications. The majority of these projects involve measuring stresses, strains, loads and deformations of fracture fixation devices, joint replacement devices, joint reconstruction techniques or soft tissue attachment devices and/or techniques. Studies are conducted using synthetic specimens, cadaveric specimens or animal models and involve evaluation of initial structural stability to long-term performance of soft tissue-bone-implant constructs. Dr. Peindl’s background includes experience in photostress analysis, strain gage and brittle coatings analyses and joint motion analyses using a variety of motion capture systems. Over the last 10 years, Dr. Peindl’s laboratory has also been involved in basic science research involving the response of osteoblasts to simulated implant surfaces and the development of a new type of osmotic gradient bioreactor system for the growth of articular cartilage. These efforts have resulted in two awarded patents in the area of tissue culture and one patent pending with respect to the bioreactor system. Emerging areas of interest include research in computer-assisted and robotic-assisted surgery and utilization of joint motion analysis and dynamic posturography for quantitative evaluation of orthopedic-related disability and surgical outcomes assessment. View Dr. Peindl full profile.

Michael J. Bosse, MD

Director of Orthopedic Trauma Service; Director of Orthopedic Clinical Research

Dr. Bosse specializes in the treatment of traumatic musculoskeletal conditions and complications resulting from injury. He is past president of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA) and is actively involved in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). Dr. Bosse is a leader in clinical research of traumatic injuries of the musculoskeletal system and has published extensively in this area. He directs an active research program, as a Co-Primary Investigatory and Clinical Chair of the Major Extremity Trauma Consortium (METRC), aimed at developing multi-institutional studies on complex injuries. Current research interests include outcomes following major extremity injury, treatment of open fractures and pelvic/acetabular fracture reconstruction. In 2003, Dr. Bosse received the prestigious Kappa Delta Award for his multi-center study on severe lower extremity injuries. View Dr. Bosse full profile.

Rachel Seymour, PhD

Associate Director of Orthopedic Clinical ResearchCo-Director of Carolinas Trauma Network Research Center of ExcellenceAdjunct Assistant Professor at University of North Carolina at Charlotte